English

Noun

African traditional religion ‎(countable and uncountable, plural African traditional religions)

1. (countable) A belief system native to Africa.
   • 2003, Lee M. Brown Professor of Philosophy a, African Philosophy : New and Traditional Perspectives: New and Traditional Perspectives, Oxford University Press (ISBN 9780198027379), page 86

     Similarly, the so-called African traditional religions were created, with the collaboration of Christian- trained African theologians, through the authorized translation of Christian concepts and doctrines into indigenous African languages .

   • 2010, Harry N. Agina, The Invasion of the Funky Pastors: Church Business at War with African Culture, Author House (ISBN 9781449081188), page 119

     For the same reasons that many Nigerians troop to churches in recent times, many also seek spiritual intervention through African traditional religions.

   • 2010, Ytasha L. Womack, Post Black: How a New Generation Is Redefining African American Identity, Chicago Review Press (ISBN 9781569765418), page 107

     Tallie began a quest all her own. She decided she wanted to practice an African traditional religion. “Something we did before colonization,” she said.

2. (uncountable) A syncretic belief system, combining the common aspects of many African mythologies.
   • 1993, Wondji, Christophe, Ali A. Mazrui, Generale History of Africa: Africa since 1935, UNESCO (ISBN 9789231027581), page 520

     (3) African traditional religion', eroded though it is by the spread of Islam and of Christianity, is still alive and still has its own humanistic and spiritual principles, which have supported successive African generations for thousands of years.

   • 2003, Malory Nye, Religion: The Basics, Psychology Press (ISBN 9780415263795), page 11

     There are strong arguments that African traditional religion is a religion in the same sense of Islam or Christianity, with a basic set of ideas (in a single creator deity, along with more minor deities, and ancestor spirits).

   • 2005, Nicholas Capaldi, Business and Religion: A Clash of Civilizations?, M & M Scrivener Press (ISBN 9780980209402), page 396

     In this respect, love of community life and the sacred remain the strength with which the African traditional religion can enforce moral sanity into business ethics in the global market.

   • 2007, George O. Ndege, Culture and Customs of Mozambique, Greenwood Publishing Group (ISBN 9780313331633), page 33

     In contemporary Mozambique, Islam continues to coexist with the other faiths of Christianity and African traditional religion.

   • 2011, J.O. Kayode, quoted in Hyacinth Kalu, Together as One: Interfaith Relationships Between African Traditional Religion, Islam, and Christianity in Nigeria: (Interfaith Series), iUniverse (ISBN 9781462029464), page 252

     During the Islamic festivals of greater Biaram of Eid-il-fitri, gifts are exchanged among the adherents of the three faiths: Islam, Christianity, and African Traditional Religion.

Usage notes

African traditional religion never refers to Abrahamic religions such as Christianity, Islam or Judaism, even when these are the traditional beliefs of a nation or tribe. Precolonial Abrahamic religions with African roots, such as the Coptic and Ethiopian Christian churches are also excluded.